Latest news with #ArmedForcesInstituteofCardiology
Express Tribune
03-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
NICVD takes in two child patients expelled by India
In a humanitarian move, the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) has taken responsibility for the free treatment of two children who returned from India without receiving medical care. Nine-year-old Abdullah and seven-year-old Mansa are both suffering from congenital heart defects. The children belong to a family from Hyderabad that had traveled to India in search of treatment. However, due to heightened tensions between Pakistan and India, they were forced to return abruptly without undergoing any procedures. Upon their return, NICVD immediately formed a high-level medical board comprising pediatric cardiologists, anesthesiologists, and CT scan specialists. After a thorough evaluation, the board concluded that both children could safely undergo complex cardiac surgeries at NICVD in Karachi, eliminating the need for treatment abroad. The hospital's senior medical team briefed the children's father in detail about the surgical procedures, recovery process, and expected outcomes. Expressing full confidence in the institute and its expert team, the father said NICVD had rekindled hope for his family after the treatment setback in India. Currently, the father is consulting additional specialists at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) in Rawalpindi. Once those consultations are complete, the children's surgeries will be scheduled at NICVD. These complex procedures will be carried out entirely free of cost, reflecting NICVD and the Sindh government's commitment to providing world-class cardiac care to all Pakistanis without financial burden. NICVD is Pakistan's largest and most advanced cardiac care institution, offering state-of-the-art treatment to both children and adults. Its mission is to ensure that no heart patient in the country is left untreated due to financial constraints.
Express Tribune
18-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Mall Road set to become signal-free
With funding from the Punjab government, district authorities have commenced work to make three traffic signals on Rawalpindi's Mall Road — at Five Star Hotel Chowk, TM Chowk, and Mall Plaza Chowk — signal-free. Initial work, including pile load tests, has started. The project also includes the construction of pedestrian underpasses near the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC). The total cost of this project is estimated at Rs4.38 billion. Once work begins, the project is expected to be completed in less than six months, with consultations ongoing between consultants (Nespak Private Limited), contractors (FWO), and the executing agency (Communication and Works Department of Punjab). Due to the critical importance of Mall Road and Peshawar Road, experts are reviewing the feasibility of completing the project within six months. Upon completion, the three traffic signals mentioned above will be removed, improving the flow of traffic on Mall Road. However, traffic signals at MH Chowk, Qasim Ma5rket Chowk, Race Course Chowk, and Cheering Cross Chowk will remain intact. This is expected to significantly enhance traffic flow on Mall Road and Peshawar Road. A second phase of the project might bring traffic signal-free plans to other major intersections, including Kachehri Chowk, MH Chowk, Qasim Market Chowk, Race Course Grand Chowk, and Chairing Cross Chowk. The project covers the section of Mall Road from Five Star Hotel Chowk to TM Chowk, and from Mall Plaza Chowk to the State Life Building. The funding for the project is part of a total investment of Rs4.38b. The first instalment of Rs200m has already been released for the fiscal year 2024-2025, with further instalments to be disbursed in phases. Before formal construction begins, experts are finalising traffic routes and other technical details, which may take another two weeks. Currently, Mall Road from Kachehri Chowk to Chairing Cross Chowk has eight traffic signals, and after the removal of signals at Five Star Hotel Chowk, TM Chowk, and Mall Plaza Chowk, Qasim Market Chowk is expected to face the highest traffic load. Due to these eight traffic signals, the flow of traffic on Mall Road and Peshawar Road is significantly hindered. Vehicles and motorcycles often experience long delays, especially when signals turn green three times without alleviating congestion. The heavy traffic from government offices, hospitals, business centres, residential areas, and access to the motorway and Peshawar route further exacerbates the situation. To address these issues, the first phase of the project will focus on removing signals at the three busiest intersections using underpasses to make them signal-free. Following the completion of this phase, additional work will be done to remove signals at Kachehri Chowk, MH Chowk, Qasim Market Chowk, Race Course Grand Chowk, and Chairing Cross Chowk, ultimately aiming to make Mall Road and Peshawar Road completely signal-free.
